"Fact or Feeling?"

In certain locations the contour of hills gives a tremendous illusion that the law
of gravity is askew.  I have read about a hill near Los Angeles, California, where thousands of motorists stop their cars, shut off the engines, release the brakes and seemingly roll up hill.  But a plumb level placed on the ground where the cars "roll up hill," will show immediately that the cars are actually rolling down hill.  The eye can be deceived; the level cannot.

In every aspect of life, we have to make judgments.  We must be careful to make 
those judgments based upon an objective standard.  Even our senses are not infallible guides, nor are our emotions.  It is not safe, therefore, to form judgments solely on the basis of our senses or our emotions.  We must prove all things, test all things 
(1 Thessalonians 5:21).

These principles are of vital importance when it comes to our salvation 
from sin.

Our salvation is NOT based on the way that we feel.  Our feelings (consciences) are much too fickle and subjective to be sure guides.  In Acts 8, we read about a man who served as the treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia, who had been to Jerusalem to worship and was on his way back to his homeland.  As he traveled in his chariot, he was reading from the book of Isaiah the prophet.  A preacher by the name of Philip came to him and asked if he understood what he was reading.  The Ethiopian replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”  And he asked Philip to study with him.  “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35). When Philip “preached Jesus” to the Ethiopian, he included the proper response to the good news of Jesus.  For when they came to some water, the Ethiopian asked, “What hinders me from being baptized?”  Then both Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water where Philip baptized him.  Now notice the effect that his obedience had upon the Ethiopian: “he went on his way rejoicing!” (Acts 8:39). Why?  Because he knew he had done what the Lord wanted him to do to be saved from his sins (cf. Acts 2:38).  His feelings of gratitude and joy followed his obedience to the truth of the gospel of Jesus.  His salvation was not based on the way that he felt, but knowing that he had obeyed the truth DID stir his feelings.

Our salvation is not based on the way that we feel, but upon our obedience to Christ as commanded in the written Word of God.  “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). 

Feelings come and feelings go, And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God; Nothing else is worth believing.
I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word, Till spirit and body sever;
For though all things shall pass away, His Word shall stand forever.

-- Author Unknown (adapted)

When it comes to our salvation, emotions can be deceiving…. 

We must ALWAYS put “FACT” before “FEELING.”

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:

                      HTML version:  subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net
                   TEXT version:  subscribe-livingwater-text@lyris.dundee.net

Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchsearch.org

Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org